After years of being against the euro, Brussels, NATO, sanctions against Russia and "gender ideology", "Vazrazhdane" switched to the positive narrative - from Kreslyovites they became torchbearers. What goals are they pursuing?
In an attempt to remind themselves of themselves after the boring campaigns against the euro, the national populists from "Vazrazhdane" raised the torch of "rule of law" high - but also some warm beer with their ideas for a presidential republic and a smaller number of deputies. In addition to the opportunity to make a splash with these new old proposals, Kostadin Kostadinov's party is also pursuing other goals, significantly more pragmatic.
After years of being against the single European currency, Brussels, NATO, sanctions against Russia, "gender ideology", "Vazrazhdane" they have switched to a positive narrative - from Kreslyovites they have become torchbearers.
Voters will be drawn.
Is anyone else biting the bait with the (impossible) Grand National Assembly (GNA)? Impossible, because its convening requires the votes of 160 deputies, and they would hardly vote for such a decision - not only because of the idea of a small parliament.
Hijacking
Lustration for those sanctioned for corruption under the "Magnitsky" Bulgarian citizens - without the right to hold high state and party positions. (Semi) presidential republic, 160-180 deputies, closure of regulators, abolition of the institution of the Prosecutor General. A general "refoundation of the state", which sounds like Khan Asparuh, but with a new Constitution. Something like PP-DB, something like "There is such a people" (ITN), something like "new social contract", a favorite cliché of newly emerged parties, political scientists and think tanks.
With these topics "Vazrazhdane" intends to secure a place under the sun of the spotlight for a while. But in the previous four years (the first Bulgarians sanctioned under "Magnitsky" were announced in 2021) this topic did not exist for Kostadinovites, nor did its context for judicial reform and the rule of law. By the way, the "reporter" on the topic in the Bulgarian National Radio and Bulgarian National Television yesterday - the deputy chairman of the "Vazrazhdane" PG, Petar Petrov, who is not known for the radicalism of his party members, displayed enviable acrobatics of a lawyer by not mentioning "Peevski", "corruption" and "Magnitsky" in the same sentence.
With the topic of "Magnitsky", however, "Vazrazhdane" is trying to get out of the image of a crutch of the status quo and to look like an almost real opposition, by hijacking the causes of "Democratic Bulgaria" and "We Continue the Change".
The two formations have had a series of unsuccessful attempts to implement the global "Magnitsky Act" in Bulgaria. They also did not receive strong support for their proposal for the so-called. "sanitary cordon" around Delyan Peevski. In June 2021, as an acting minister, the current leader of the PP Asen Vassilev prepared a list of companies and individuals of the Ministry of Finance under the "Magnitsky" sanctions with which the state should not work. However, the Supreme Administrative Court overturned it.
Five months ago, the PP-DB again proposed legislative changes through which "Magnitsky" would be applied in Bulgaria, including to persons related to the declared Bulgarian citizens. The majority did not support it, nor did "Vazrazhdane". In fact, the only other MPs who voted for the legislative proposals were from MECH and some of the MPs from the group around Ahmed Dogan.
The national populists are aware that the legislative proposal will not pass, but they are nevertheless using the propaganda trick. And it is not new at all.
"Vazrazhdane" adopts rhetoric used by pro-European parties, giving it a new context that serves its interests - to appear as the real anti-systemic and moral alternative.
It is not clear what concept "Vazrazhdane" has for the rule of law, since it is ambitious to restructure the state. But the attempts to advertise themselves as authentic fighters against the Borisov/Peevski status quo are not convincing, although they will certainly mislead some voters into following them. Poisonous doubles are usually more attractive and vivid than the originals they copy.
Shoulder to shoulder with GERB
In its short parliamentary history, "Vazrazhdane" has always been a viable opposition to GERB. Through various tricks in the plenary hall, they voted in a way convenient for Borisov's party, they helped to establish a quorum - or its collapse. A favor for a favor.
Thanks to GERB, the immunities of four deputies from "Vazrazhdane" - Slavcho Krumov, Ivaylo Chorbov, Yordan Todorov, Nikola Dimitrov, have been preserved, despite several attempts to remove them. The reason why Acting Prosecutor General Sarafov wants to remove their protection from criminal prosecution is the pogrom against the European Commission building in Sofia in February, in which they were involved.
The "lustration" project based on "Magnitsky", apart from being a certain plagiarism of the discourse, can also be seen as a kind of service to Borisov - it keeps the focus on the rival partner, but also shifts attention to some extent from the dependencies that have chained him to it. And the "presidential republic" - whole or half, is the salt and pepper of these warmed-up ideas. Thus "Vazrazhdane" seem to be part of the opposition, but without violating their comfortable partnerships.
The opposition chorus against Peevski/Borisov is becoming so deafening that it is difficult to distinguish who is singing out of tune. And from "Vazrazhdane" they even want to pass for soloists.
This comment expresses the personal opinion of the author and may not coincide with the positions of the Bulgarian editorial office and the State News Agency as a whole.